op mtjskegon



Feb. 22,1927,

1,618,524 R. w. FERRIS FINGERPRINT DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1925 I /0 ,f, S5 L1 1 I 3+ l X "J I a 1 0" 1 7 i If x \3 I l I I Attorney Patented Feb.22 I927.

UNITED STATES 1,618,524 PATENT OFFICE} :ROY w. FERRIS, or MUsKneoN,MICHIGAlfL-ASSIGNGR or onn 'rrrmn TO WILLIAM oaarnn'rnn AND'HARRY w.JACKSON, coranrnnns UNDER THE FIRMLNAME or CARPENTER AND JAcKson, orMUSKEGON, 'ivrrcnrean,

; rrnennrnm'r nnvrcn.

Application filed December planes indicated by the lines 2- -2 and 33,

respectively, or Figure 1.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in allof theviews of the drawings. V

'I show in the drawings a sheet of paper 1 with divisions anddesignations appropriate to the purpose for which the sheet is intended.These divisions and designations of the sheet 1 are not of'the essenceofmy invention and it Will be understood, therefore, that the sheet to beused for the reception of fingerprints may be a plain sheet,

maybe a sheet with designations such asillustrated, or may be a sheet ofany other appropriate character without affecting my templating theintroduction into the device of sheets in succession as one criminalafter another is brought up forthemaking of his finger print record.

Among other elements my novel device comprises a body block 2,preferably of hard wood, and the device also comprises a sheet guide andretainer or holder 3. The said guide and retainer is formed of thinsheet metal, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, and includesend portions 3 attached by screws 4 to the ends of the body lock 2,spaced flanges 5 onsaid end portions and apertured at 6 for the passageof screws or the like through the medium of which the device maybefixedly and strongly secured on a deskor other support, and a plate 7disposed above and in spacedrelation to the upper side of the body block2 and cut away as designated by 8 to leave side guid ing flanges 9 withan ample space between said flanges 9 for the particular portion ofwhichare pivotally connected at 11 to the end portions of the block 2and the end portions 3 of the guide and retainer, and-which retainingbail is equipped at 11 with an offset finger piece whereby it may beexpeditiously and easily raised from the workingposition shown in Figure2. l

The importance of strongly securing the device on a table or othersupport, and the importance 'of stronglyeholding the record sheet 1inthe device during the making of .finger prints will'be appreciatedwhenit is stated that inmany cases criminals are not amenable to the makingof their finger prints, and'therefore it is necessary in many cases forthe officers in charge to use force in The sheet '1 illustrated isprovided with divisions designated by "13 for prints of the right thumb,-rightforefinger, right middle finger, right ringrfinger and rightlittle finger,frespectively, and these prints are made after the sheetis introduced into the a i device 'in' the direction indicated by arrowin Figure 1 and after the bail is swung down over the forward portion ofthe sheet into the position shown in Figure 2 50' as to strongly retainthe sheet in'the device and against, accidental movement relativethereto. Arranged as stated the divisions 13 will bedisplayed betweenthe flanges 9c of the retainer and guide 3 and hence while the majorportion of the hand of the criminal is supported on the major portion 7of the 7 guide and retainer, the desired finger or thumb print may bemadein the appropriate division 13. After the making of the finger orthumb print stated, the bail is lifted and the sheet is moved in thedirection indicated by arrow through the device until divisionscorresponding to the division 13 and intended to receive finger andthumb prints of the other hand of the criminal are brought incoincidence witli the opening between the flanges 9. Then the print ofthe fingers and thumb of such other hand are made, and thereupon thesheet is again adjusted throhgh the device, still in the directionindicated by arrow in Figure 1, to position divisions or spaces 14 and15 between the flanges 9, when with the sheet securely .lastened in thedevice as before described, it is the province of the oilicer havingcharge of thedevice insecure in the division ii the printssimultaneously of tour fingers of the left hand, and to secure in thedivision 15 the simultaneous imprinting of the fingers, tour in number,on the righthand. The identification data complementary to each of thesheets 1 used successively in the device may he filled in attheappropriate place on the sheet either precedent or subsequent to thefinger printing operation as the discretion of thebiticer dictates.

It will he readily appreciated from the foregoing that I have provided adevice for facilitating the limiting of [in er prints that is at oncesimple and strong, iL sir-eeptihle oi ready adjustment for theinanipuhition oi a sheet on which the prints are to be made is adaptedto strongly held a sheet so as to lessen the liability of the same heiugdisplaced by an obstreperous criulinah and is not liahle to be injuredby rough handling; as when it is necessary to use force in placing thelinger or thumb of the criminal on the sheet.

I have specifically described the preferred en' hodilnent of myinvention in order to impart an exact undcrstaiu'liiur oi all oi thedetails of the same, the sa d e nbodiuunit havin}: tlelllfillstlfltfitlin actual practice its utility a ud practicaladvantage [i do not desire,however, to be iuulerstood as confining; myxelt to the structure andrelative arran e ment of the parts as disclosed, my invention heingdclined by my appended clain is within the scope or which changes instructure and in relative arrai'igement may he made without departurefrom my invention,

Having descrihed my invention, What I claim and desire to secure hyLetters-Patent 1. A device for facilitating the making of linger prints,comprising means for supporting andproviding a rest for a sheet of paperor other material, means for guiding and retaining the said sheet, andmeans for securing the sheet detachably against accidental movement; thesaid support and rest means being in the form of a hlock, the said deand retaining means being in the form of a plate spaced above the uppersurface of the block and having a hand supporting portion and alsohaving an "open ortion for the placing of fingers on a retaine sheet,and the detachahly securing means being in the form of a bail hingedlymounted and relatively arranged to clasp and bind a portion of a sheetagainst an opposed edge of the block.

53. A device for tacilitating the making of finger prints comprising ablock, a plate spaced above the upper surface of theblock and ha vintendportions attached to the ends ot the hloclr and also having base flangesextending from said end portions and fur ther having;- initsportionspaced ahove the upper surface oi the hlock an iniperforatehand-supporting par; and an opening, and a hail hingedlv conneet ed tothe ends of the block and the end portitms of the plate and adapted tociusp or hind a portion of a sheet oi material against the opposed endportionr's ot the plai It. A device For lzullitating the making a oilinger prints; crn'uprising a block, a plate spaced above the uppersurface oi the block and having end portions attached to the ends oi theblock and also llaringbi'ise flanges e iendinf ronr.--=aid end portionsand furtlier having: in its portion s nu-i-alabove the upper surface atthe block an importer-ate hand supporting: pertain} an opening, and ahail luagcdly ronneclml lothe ends ol the block and plate and adapted toclasp or hinda portion ot a sheet (,l lraterial against the op ur-aaledge oi the him-h; the said hail havinn; at an interniediate point ofits length an otisu swell constituting a linger piece.

l A derive for facilitating the making of (ingo prints, comprising asupport, a plate smured above and in spaced relation to the uppersurfaceot the support to pern'lit oi the passage of a sheet of u iaterialbetween the support and the plate, said plate having a portiontoss-rapport the hand and also having an openiiigg throueh whichtheiingers may be introduced lor printing purposes, and a sivingzgahlebail adapted in one posh tion to bind or Fasten a portion of a sheetagainst an opposed portion of the block and in another positionto permitready Witlulrawal of the sheet from between the support and the plate.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

noY W. FERRIS.

